Fava Bean, Burrata, and Mint Crostini
Fava Bean, Burrata, and Mint Crostini is fresh, creamy fava bean hummus served with toasted bread and Burrata cheese. It’s the perfect spring appetizer!
If you follow along here regularly, you know that my idea of a good time is ooh-ing and ahh-ing over fruits and veggies at farmer’s markets or the super market every chance I get.
Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? I know there must be more people out there like me. 🙂
With that in mind, it’s always exciting for me when I get to try a new variety of produce. The first time I’d ever experienced fava beans was at cooking school, and I was in love at first bite.
My instructor told us that any time she sees fava beans on the menu at a restaurant, she orders them because she knows the work that’s involved.
I remembered that when I visited a restaurant recently, and saw a fava bean crostini with burrata on the menu. We ordered it and loved it, and this Fava Bean, Burrata and Mint Crostini is my interpretation of that dish.
Ever since cooking school, fava beans have been a variety of produce that I seek out every spring despite the work that’s involved. The payoff is worth every bit of time that’s spent.
Shelling fava beans is almost therapeutic for me…I actually enjoy the process. 🙂
If you’ve never prepared fresh fava beans, check out my post on How To Cook Fava Beans, complete with a handy video on how to prep and cook them.
Once you’ve prepped and cooked your fava beans, the hummus takes only minutes to prepare. It’s so creamy and that beautiful color just screams spring.
The flavor also screams spring. There’s a bright pop of flavor from the lemon juice and the fresh mint makes it truly refreshing.
Burrata is such a trendy cheese right now, and it’s on the menu at just about every restaurant we go to. It’s like fresh mozzarella, but it’s even better.
Basically, Burrata is made from scraps of mozzarella, and it’s got a soft, rich center with a fresh milky quality that oozes out when the cheese is sliced. It’s downright amazing.
The burrata adds a wonderful richness to the refreshing flavor of the hummus, and the toasted baguette is the perfect accompaniment.
Fava Bean, Burrata and Mint Crostini is the ultimate spring appetizer!
More fava bean recipes you’ll love:
- 20 Fava Bean Recipes
- Spring Farro Salad
- Spring Risotto
- Spring Spaghetti Carbonara with Bacon
- Summer Succotash Salad
Fava Bean, Burrata, and Mint Crostini
Ingredients
- 8 ounces fresh baguette sliced 1/2″ thick on the bias
- 1 lb. fava beans unshelled
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint plus more for garnish
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil plus more for the crostini
- salt and pepper to taste
- Burrata cheese sliced
Instructions
Prepare the crostini:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Place the baguette slices on a large baking sheet and brush lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with a bit of sea salt.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown and toasted. Remove from heat and cool.
Prepare the hummus:
- Prepare the fava beans according to my instructions in my post How To Cook Fava Beans.
- Place the beans in the bowl of a food processor and puree until smooth. Add the lemon juice, mint, salt and pepper.
- With the processor on low, add the oil through the chute and process until combined. Taste and correct the seasoning.
Assemble the crostini:
- Place about a tablespoon of the hummus on each slice of bread followed by a small slice of Burrata, a bit more puree or cooked fava beans and freshly chopped mint.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Prep time above includes shelling and cooking the fava beans.
- The toasted baguette may be made in advance and stored in an air tight container until ready to serve.
- Fava bean hummus is also delicious as a spread for wraps or a dip for crackers or veggies.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
27 Comments on “Fava Bean, Burrata, and Mint Crostini”
What a GREAT new series! These crostini look lovely. Perfect for a late spring outdoor lunch! Thank you for sharing and making my evening both brighter and more delicious!
Thank you, Monet, and I appreciate your kind words! Have a lovely weekend. 🙂
I’m going to look forward to this new series every Friday Marcie! I love going to Farmers Markets this time of year. And I’ve always shied away from the fava beans, but now I know what to do with them. Lovely spring appetizer!
I’m looking forward to doing this series so much, and it’s going to be hard narrowing down my choices. haha Thanks so much, Christin, and have a great weekend! 🙂
Awesome new series! We love going to the farmer’s market on Saturday mornings – and now you’ll just give me some great ideas on Fridays before we go : ) Happy weekend Marcie!
Thanks, Ashley! I have to have some sort of plan before I go to the farmer’s market or I get a little crazy and over-buy…kind of like going to the grocery store hungry? Have a great weekend! 🙂
I love this new series. What a great idea. Going to the farmer’s market is one of my favorite weekend activities. I am so glad I will have inspiration here before I head out on Saturdays. Fava beans are really under utilized. So perfect for spring!! Love this appetizer.
Thank you, Zainab! I know it’s nice to have some sort of inspiration or direction before I go to farmer’s market or I get all kinds of crazy and buy a ton and have no idea what to do with it all when I get home. haha Fava beans really are so versatile, much like peas, and are under utilized! Hope you have a nice weekend! 🙂
These totally look like I would enjoy them… my only question is how do I stop eating them? 😉
I had that problem, too, Pamela! haha Thanks, and have a great weekend! 🙂
I am loving Farmer’s Market Fridays!!! i already learned about a new vegetable I have never had before!! And I LOVE Burrata cheese so this appetizer looks delish to me!! 🙂
Thank you, Renee! When I had this appetizer at restaurant I flipped out — it was so fresh and delicious! I could almost put Burrata cheese on anything. haha Have a wonderful weekend! 🙂
I’ve never used fava beans but this looks scrumptious! Think I’ll have to find some!
They’re so delicious and worth the effort! I hope you’re about to find yourself some. 🙂 Have a great weekend!
I want Spring in a bowl! I am on the look out for Fava Beans now!
I’ve only found them at the farmers market — I never can find them anywhere else! Good luck, Tahny!
I’ve never used fava beans before. This sounds wonderful! We do have fresh mint in abundance in our backyard, so I’ll have to try this. Pinned!
Fava beans to me are like less starchy peas — I love them! They would be the perfect use for your mint! Thank you for the pin, Jill. 🙂
I love everything about this one. It looks so fresh and pretty and delicious!
Thank you, Lori! 🙂
I love this new series Marcie, it’s such a great idea! We love going to the farmer’s market every Saturday but I have yet to try cooking with fava beans and can’t wait to look for some this weekend. I love the sound of this appetizer – so perfect for spring 🙂
Thank you, Kelly! I wish fava beans didn’t have such a short season because they’re so good. Good luck finding them! 🙂
These are really beautiful, Marcie! The only time I’ve had fava beans is when chef friend made fava bean hummus, and I think she went to the same culinary school as you!
Thank you, Andi! I’d love to hear if your friend did go to Tante Marie Cooking School and where she works — that would be fun to find out. She may have had the same instructor as I did, and she is responsible for introducing me to fava beans! 🙂
This looks delicious! I would love for you share it on my Tasty Tuesday recipe link up here! Everything gets pinned and I would love to have you!
Your description of this has my mouth watering! I have to either make this, or try it at a restaurant sometime soon! And I love the bright green, it’s so springy! 🙂
Thank you, Jocelyn, and I hope you’re able to try it! It really is spring in a bowl. 🙂